Racing: Benabar on track for Easter Mile

The $200,000 Land Pride Easter Handicap on April 17 reared its head after impressive Benabar justified his favouritism at Ellerslie last night.

It's a long way from that R80 to group one racing. But part-owner and trainer Stephen McKee believes it's a realistic target.

Benabar's record suggests he's right. That record is now seven starts for four wins and two seconds.

"The only time he has missed finishing first or second is when he pulled a muscle in his hindquarters coming out of the gates last year here at Ellerslie and I had to give him two months off," said McKee.

The $20,000 Barfoot and Thompson Twilight Cup win was achieved with relative ease.

Leith Innes had Benabar settled nicely in the trail and the horse proved far too strong.

The 1400m was his first start past 1200m. The step to 1600m in the future looks a natural for a horse that simply does not look like a sprinter.

Stephen McKee bought Benabar's dam La Berceuse as a supplementary entry in a mixed sale at Karaka.

He was looking for a young High Royal Highness horse and when unable to buy a yearling by the now deceased under-rated stallion, he did the next best thing.

"I bought her for $9000, got the foal and sold her for $300. I think she was 16 at the time.

"Because I bought her in foal I am registered as the breeder, which I don't agree with - I'm not the breeder."

McKee races Benabar in partnership with wife Fiona.

The Ardmore trainer is looking forward to getting Benabar into the Easter.

"He'll run a lovely mile with no weight on his back. I could see him tracking the speed and finishing on."

Pacemaker Tsardurka held on for second with Worthing just nosing his way into third.

* Leading jockey James McDonald took his tally to 101 wins for the season with a winning treble at Riccarton yesterday.

The Cambridge-based apprentice is clear of Mark Du Plessis and Opie Bosson in the Jockeys' Premiership.